Heartland Festival is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative category at the Scottish Thistle Awards 2026.

The Scottish Thistle Awards, delivered in association with VisitScotland and headline sponsored by Abbey – The Destination Experts, celebrate the very best of Scotland’s tourism and events industry, recognising businesses, events and individuals who continue to innovate while delivering outstanding visitor experiences.

Following a detailed judging process involving a panel of independent industry experts, including an interview last month, Heartland Festival has been selected as one of the regional finalists. The winner will be announced at the regional awards ceremony in September 2026, with each regional winner progressing to compete for the national title.

Now in its fourth year, Heartland Festival has become one of Scotland’s leading family-friendly music festivals, welcoming thousands of visitors while continuing to support local communities, businesses and charities across Perthshire.

The nomination follows another proud moment for the festival earlier this year, when Heartland Festival was named Runner-Up at the Scottish Live Music Awards 2026, recognising the event’s growth and success.

Quote from Marina Hilton, Operations Director – Heartland Festival

“We are absolutely honoured and humbled to have been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative category at the Scottish Thistle Awards 2026. To receive this recognition alongside so many outstanding organisations is a proud moment for everyone involved with Heartland Festival.

Heartland began with Graham Howie’s vision of creating a festival that would bring people together through music while celebrating the very best of Perthshire. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how that vision has grown into an event that not only welcomes thousands of visitors but also supports local communities, charities and businesses.

This nomination is a testament to the dedication of our amazing team, volunteers, partners, sponsors, performers and everyone who has supported the festival along the way. We are delighted to be recognised by the Scottish Thistle Awards and look forward to celebrating with our fellow finalists in September.”

We wish all of the finalists the very best of luck and look forward to celebrating with everyone at the regional awards ceremony in September.